Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-5nwft Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-21T11:20:40.159Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Studies on the Field Epidemiology of Human Onchocerciasis on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria—VII. The Effects of Climatic Factors on the Diurnal Biting Behaviour of Simulium damnosum Theobald (Diptera: Simuliidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

B. E. B. Nwoke
B. E. B. Nwoke
Affiliation:
Medical Entomology & Parasitology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Jos, Nigeria
Get access

Abstract

The effects of climate on the diurnal biting pattern of Simulium damnosum s.s. were measured at Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Rain in the hours prior to the catch inhibited morning activity by lowering the temperature and light intensity, and raising the humidity. Under shade there were no remarkable fluctuations in the light intensity, and no obvious peaks in activity; in sunny places, activity was bimodal, with a small morning peak and a pronounced afternoon one. The fastest changing climatic factor relative to an increase in the biting activity of flies was light intensity; followed by temperature.

Résumé

Les effets du climat sur le mode de morsure diurne du Simulium damnosum s.s ont été mesurés au Plateau de Jos, Nigéria. La pluie aux heures suivant l'attrapage ont inhibe les activités de la matinée avec la baisse de la température et de l'intensité d'illumination et l'accroissement de l'humidité. A l'ombre, on n'a constaté ni de variations importantes de l'intensité d'illumination ni de pointes dans l'activité; au soleil, l'activité était bimodale avec une légère pointe matinale et une pointe prononcée dans l'après-midi. Le facteur climatique le plus variable par rapport à l'accroissement de l'activité de mosure des mouches était l'intensité d'illumination; celle-ci est suivie de la température.

Keywords

EpidemiologyonchocerciasisSimuliumclimatic factorsdiurnal bitingNigeria
Type
Research Articles
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 9 , Issue 3 , June 1988 , pp. 323 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Akoh, J. I. (1987) Cytotaxonomic analysis of the black flies, Simulium damnosum complex (Diptera: Simuliidae) from Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Proceedings of the Nigeria-Japan Joint International Conf. on Trace Metal, Diarrhoea, Goitre, Medical Entomol. and Epidemiology. 30 April–2 May, 1987 at Hill Station Jos, Nigeria p. 29.Google Scholar
Anderson, J. R. and Defoliart, G. R. (1961) Feeding behaviour and host preferences of some blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Wisconsin. Ann. ent. Soc. Am. 54, 716–729.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crosskey, R. W. (1955) Observation of the bionomics of adult Simulium damnosum Theobald (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Northern Nigeria. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 49, 142–153.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crosskey, R. W. (1979) An appraisal of current knowledge of Simulium damnosum s.l. in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in relation to the development of an onchocerciasis control campaign. WHO/VBC/79. 717: WHO/ONCHO/79.150.Google Scholar
Dalmat, H. T. (1955) The blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of Guatemala and their role as vectors of onchocerciasis. Smithson Misc. collect. 125, 1–425.Google Scholar
Kaneko, K., Saito, K. and Wonde, T. (1973) Observation on the diurnal rhythm of the biting activity of Simulium damnosum in Omo-Gibe and Gojjeb rivers; southwest Ethiopia. Jpn. J. Sanit. Zool. 24, 175–180.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lacey, A. L. and Charlwood, D. J. (1980) On the biting activities of some anthropophilic Amazonian simuliids. Bull. Ent. Res. 70, 495–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, D. T., Lyons, G. R. L. and Marr, J. P. M. (1961) Observations on Simulium damnosum from the Red Volta, Ghana. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 55, 202–210.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nwoke, B. E. B. (1986) Studies on the field epidemiology of human onchocerciasis on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Ph.D. Thesis University of Jos, Nigeria.Google Scholar
Nwoke, B. E. B., Onwuliri, C. O. E. and Iwuala, M. O. E. (1986) Studies on the field epidemiology of human oncho cerciasis on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. II. Seasonal relative abundance, infective biting density and the effect of parity on the biting pattern of Simulium damnosum (Diptera:Simuliidae). Nigerian J. Parasitol. Vol. iv.Google Scholar
Nwoke, B. E. B., Onwuliri, C. O. E. and Iwuala, M. O. E. (1987) Studies on the field epidemiology of human oncho cerciasis on the Jos Plateau, Nigeria. III. Some human factors affecting disease prevalence. In Proceedings of Nigerian-Japan Joint Int. Conf. on Trace Metals, Diarrhoea, Goitre, Medical Entomology and Epidemiology. 30 April-2 May 1987 at Hill Station Jos, Nigeria pp. 26–28.Google Scholar
Onwuliri, C. O. E., Nwoke, B. E. B., Lawal, I. A. and Iwuala, M. O. E. (1987) The prevalence of onchocerciasis among residents around the Assob River area, Jos Plateau, Nigeria. Ann. Trop. Med. Parasitol. 8, 49–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saunder, D. S. (1976) Insects Clocks. Oxford, Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Underhill, G. W. (1940) Some factors influencing feeding activity of Simuliids in the Field. J. Econ. Ent. 33, 915–917.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walsh, J. F. (1978) Light trap studies of Simulium damnosum s.l. in Northern Ghana. Tropenmed. Parasitol. 29, 492–496.Google ScholarPubMed